Mixi J. Applebottom's Blog, page 8
February 26, 2016
February 25, 2016
February 24, 2016
Jaspierre’s Last Chance- an Excerpt
Lucille was stolen, and Jaspierre tossed into prison. It was ridiculous. She started doing jumping jacks. The world appeared to have changed in the most vicious, unrelentingly difficult way. Yes, she had made some mistakes. She murdered, but even though he deserved it, it was still technically illegal. Couldn’t they cut her some slack because Lucille was stolen? Because Pierre was murdered? But no, somehow, that was not quite how it worked.
They should have just given her a ticket or a slap on the wrist. It was her first offense! Shouldn’t everyone get to kill at least one person before they had to go to prison? She understood men like Chance needed to be locked up. But a successful woman like her? It made no sense. Everyone was a little naughty; what’s next? Every single speeding person locked up? Anyone who smoked in a non-smoking zone thrown into prison for years? Where would they draw the line?
April 30, 2015
Writing is a muscle
Writer’s block is one of those things artistic people talk about.
I don’t really get it.
People who work don’t get work block. Nobody does that. Artists and musicians and writers who are waiting to be inspired by the world are the same people who stand around with no money in their pockets.
Actors don’t act when they are inspired. They work when the script is available, when they aren’t out working, they tend to be practicing in the mirror or at an acting class or in a local cheesy play.
Actors aren’t randomly inspired to be Macbeth. They work at it.
That is how all the creative arts are. It’s a big secret you know. So many people are believers that to be creative you must be inspired and penniless. You have to wait for a big break up to write a love song. You’ll have to experience loss, loss that is happening right this second, in order to paint something dreary.
Let me tell you folks, this is a lie. A newspaper reporter must report whether the story is interesting to him, or not. It’s a job. A fantastic job, but a job. Novel writing is the same. Write every day. If you are struggling with your imaginary friend’s problems, then don’t come whining to me about it being writers block.
Just write. Sit and write. Write something awful. Singers hit wrong notes and then practice and fix it. You can do the same. Don’t sit and waste your time and your days waiting for inspiration. Inspiration is a lie. Writers write. Authors put pen to page and don’t stop until a book comes out.
If you have a creative dream then you should follow it with endless determination. Be more determined, more dedicated, and more willing to push then any other person. Practice relentlessly. Strengthen the pieces of yourself that is weakest. Don’t procrastinate. Push onwards, and write.
April 24, 2015
Hello world, here I come
I cut down trees this week. In the most literal way. I took out a saw and I cut down maybe, ten. Not a chainsaw though, those things scare me.
What does my average day look like? Well, I’m so glad I asked.
First I send the kids off to school. Thank goodness.
Second, I write. I try to write at least 3,000 words a day. I do not always succeed. But that’s my target. Then I edit one or two chapters. I try to edit slightly more then 3,000 words per day, but I always edit by chapter. If a chapter is 800 words and the next one is 2600 then I would edit both.
Usually I am done around one or so, and then I go remodel the house, paint, do laundry, drywall, texture, run on the treadmill, cry, eat chocolate, carry flooring up the stairs in preperation of work yet to be done, then the kids get home.
So we go to swim lessons, or make dinner, do homework, usually we watch a show together such as Hell’s Kitchen or dancing with the stars or some such. Then they go off to bed, and I write or edit or whichever needs my attention or I drink and sleep or watch scary movies into the night.
Either way, it’s a pretty awesome life.
April 21, 2015
What have you been up to Mixi?
Well, I’ve been busy. My husband got a fancy schmancy new job so I’m single momming it during the week and he comes home on weekends.
I just finished my latest book, I believe the title will be Landlocked Lighthouse. It’s a creepy novel about a chick who moves into a haunted mansion.
Also I have been a working outdoors and indoors. I built a swingset. The instructions specifically said to have two grown adults, but I did it myself. Those liars. The kids had to help a little. There may have been intense sobbing from them when I asked them to hold a piece too heavy. Sorry kids!
Inside I am working on the little lady’s soon to be bedroom. It’s been complicated. I have to cut the doors to fit still, and install a closet. But I have been spending gobs of time working on the texture. In this house the walls are almost smooth. I think they are basically gorgeous. Fantastic. Almost smooth.
But they have the slightest texture, like an actual orange. Just barely textured.
So I tried several techniques to mimic this, because again, it’s gorgeous. Finally I settled on thinning down the drywall compound and rolling it on, then lightly sanding it.
After I spent hours and hours on the room, rolling carefully. I sanded lightly, and well.
I hated it.
Forget it. It was awful. I then spent hours sanding it all off. Then I painted it. And you know what? I’m pretty sure the texture is just like, use a fat roller on a smooth wall. It’s not anything else. Not textured paint, not drywall compound, it’s literally just, slap the paint on a little thick.
Well, that would have been very nice to know earlier I swear.
I hope your projects are going well, and your life feels fulfilling.
April 17, 2015
Book quotes
My mom said, “Maybe you should try writing children’s books. I’m not comfortable with this one.”
My friend said, after hearing about my book, “I’m gonna pray for you.”
My lone amazon review said, “Loved this… except the end. ”
So, if you hate endings, and would like to be uncomfortable, and perhaps need prayer – then I have the book for you.
Jaspierre, by me, Mixi J Applebottom.
